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Two dead, four hurt as transports collide on 401

Two people are dead and four others in hospital after a multiple-vehicle collision on Highway 401 east of Prescott on Monday night.

Two transport trailers and three vehicles collided in the eastbound lanes of the 401 between Prescott and Highway 416 at 10:30 p.m., according to Grenville County Ontario Provincial Police.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene while three others were taken to hospital by ambulance. A fourth with serious and life-threatening injuries was flown to hospital by air ambulance. The identities of the deceased were being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

A 60-year-old man from Brossard, Que. was arrested for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm.

Jamil Ahmad Qureshi is charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and four counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.

He is being held in custody for a bail hearing in the Brockville Ontario Court of Justice on Dec. 1.

The highway was reopened Tuesday after 17 hours.

The collision was the second on the 401 involving transports in the same area on Monday.

At 3:50 p.m. Monday two transport trailers collided in the westbound lanes near Johnstown.

An OPP technical collision investigator is assisting with the investigation.